School district's goal is 100 percent grad rate

Nearly 500 graduates will walk across the stage next week to collect their diplomas as Lyon County's five high schools hold their commencement exercises.

As the Class of 2014 moves on to college and careers, the Lyon County School District will move into its third year implementing Common Core state standards and moving toward its stated goal of a 100 percent graduation rate.

Lyon County's graduate rate for the 2012-13 school year was 79 percent, compared to a state average of about 71 percent, according to a report from the Nevada Department of Education released in December. Superintendent Keith Savage said graduation rate reports lag about a year behind, so the district won't find out the rates for the current graduating class until sometime during the next school year.

Savage said the district's graduation rates now are calculated diffferently under the Cohort graduation model, used by 16 states.

According to the Four Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for 2011-12 released last spring by the Nevada Department of Education, Lyon County's graduation rate was 77.98 percent. The district's Five Year Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for 2011-12 was 79.58 percent.

State averages were 63.14 and 63.47, respectively.

"When we changed to the Cohort model, the rate dipped, but it's been pretty consistent," Savage said.

School districts used differing methods to calculate graduation rates, until switching to the Cohort model, he said, so comparing graduates rates isn't quite accurate.

The Cohort graduation rate is based on the percent of students from entering ninth grade cohort who graduate with a standard diploma within four years. This method can account for transfer and students retained in grade. Student data can be tracked on a statewide or local basis. Students are assigned to a cohort when they first enter ninth grade. The cohort is a group of students expected to graduate in the same year.

At the end of four years, all students are separated into four categories:

• On-track graduate – completed high school with a regular diploma in four years or less.

• Other completer – earned a GED or other certificate, or reached special education maximum age.

• Dropout – left high school permanently during the four-year cohort period or whose whereabouts are unknown.

• Off-track graduated and continuing – completed high school with a regular diploma in more than four years or did not complete high school but continues in school.

A cohort graduation rate is determined by dividing the on-track graduates by the cohort total.

The dropout rates are calculated the same way as graduation rates, substituting the number of dropouts in the numerator.

The following is the schedule for graduation and promotion ceremonies at Lyon County schools

High school graduation ceremonies:

Dayton High: 7 p.m. May 29

Fernley High: 7 p.m. May 30

Silver Stage High: 6:30 p.m. May 29

Smith Valley: 7 p.m. May 30

Yerington High: 10 a.m. May 31

Eighth grade promotion ceremonies:

Dayton Intermediate: 6 p.m. May 28

Silverland Middle: 9 and 11 a.m. May 29

Silver Stage Elementary: 6 p.m. May 28

Yerington Intermediate: 7 p.m. May 28

INSIDE

• Schedule of area high school graduations and eighth grade promotions, A2